As a parent of a 7-year-old who would prefer to subsist entirely on foods made from bleached flour, sugar and sometimes American cheese, I have struggled to find the right balance between enforcing good nutrition and becoming a food fascist.

It was nice to read in the New York Times Sunday that I am not alone. In a story that appeared on page one, Frank Bruni details the ways parents grapple with trying to encourage healthy eating habits without giving their children a food complex.

Our current strategy is to allow total flexibility on the type of fruit or vegetable consumed with each meal, as long as there is one. Our plan is to stock up on fruits and veggies she likes and simply go with it. No more "eat your peas" or else.

Last night, we learned the ever-popular corn (which some argue isn't really a vegetable anyway, but a starchy grain) has fallen out of favor. Apparently the skin makes its unpleasant to swallow.

Still, it feels a bit like admitting defeat. We'll be eating a lot of strawberries, carrots and cucumbers. What's your strategy, and how far will you go to get your kids to eat a healthy diet?

Current Comments

Couldn’t be written any better. Reading this post reminds me of my old room mate! He always kept talking about this. I will forward this article to him. Pretty sure he will have a good read. Thanks for sharing!